Penn State is using Ketchum to deal with the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the university, leading to the firing of long-time Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno and resignation of school president Graham Spanier.

The story hit a new low after alleged sex abuser and former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky told NBC that he liked to "horse around" and shower with young boys.
Sandusky, who retired in 1999, is charged with 40 counts of abuse.

James Donnelly is head of Ketchum’s crisis team. An email sent to Donnelly has a message that he is away on “business travel the entire week of Nov. 13, returning on Monday, Nov. 21.”

Alicia Stetzer, Ketchum’s associate manager of corporate communications, responded on Donnelly’s behalf. She confirmed that Ketchum is currently providing counsel to the board of trustees of Pennsylvania State University.”

Stetzer added that the “details of all our client assignments are confidential.”